Bail handle for carrier cartons



Feb. 20, 1951 M. 1.. SCHUMANN 2,542,365 BAIL HANDLE FOR CARRIER CARTONS Filed July 27, 1948 3 IN V EN TOR. Martin 1 Sclzuizzann Y A an's/5r Patented Feb. 20, 1951 UNITED sun" BAIL HANDLE FOR C RRIER oAR'roNs Martin L. Schumann, Baltimore, Mdt, assignonto EllaKeenan, Ellicott, Gity, Mdt.

" ApplicationJuly 27, 1948, Serial No. 403927 This invention relates to an improvement" in qhandles or supporting bails.i.0r" carrier cartons and particularly tov cartons for conveniently'carrying beverage bottles or the like.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved handle for beverage bottle carriers having a novel construction that permits it to be retracted for purposes of storage, is quickly extended to carrying position and will remain in the extended or retracted position without the aid of other securing means.

A further and important object of the invention resides in the novel manner of forming the handle or bail, whereby a hand engaging portion is provided and carton engaging extensions so formed as to slidably and frictionally engage the partition of the carton in a manner to maintain the handle in either the extended or retracted position against tilting or swaying in use, is quickly and easily attached to the carton and will not become disengaged either when in use or retracted.

Other novel features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a beverage bottle carrier showing the invention in use and in extended position,

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Figure 1 and,

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawmg.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a conventional beverage bottle carrying carton commonly employed to conveniently carry a group of bottles, usually six in number. The invention has been illustrated as being applied to a bottle carrier, but it will be obvious that other carriers requiring a bail handle maybe readily adapted for use with the improved handle. The carton 5 is provided with a central, vertically arranged partition 6, extending above the sides of the carton body and serves as a handle engaging portion for a handle, generally designated at 1. The partition 6 is provided with elongated slots 8, vertically arranged and terminating adjacent the upper edge of the partition. The slots are enlarged in width for substantially half their length, providing a means for readily attaching the bail handle to the partition.

The handle 1 is preferably formed of a hard 1 Claim. (crew-52) 2, basic wire, calculated to maintain its shape after formation and having sufiicient flexibility to perniit its attachment tothe partition and to frictionally maintan the handle in adjusted position. The handle 1 is formed U-shaped, providing a hand engaging portion 9, corrugated or scalloped, as shown to avoid slipping of the hand to affording a comfortable grip for the fingers. Parallel legs I0, integral with the handle 9, have their lower terminal ends bent to provide inwardly opening U-shaped guides H for frictionally and slidably engaging the inner walls of the slots 8.

In the formation of the handle, a strip of hard basic wire is out to predetermined length, after which the corrugated hand engaging portion 9 is pressed into shape. The oppositely extended ends are then bent to provide the guides l I, having a depth corresponding to the thickness of the partition 6. The depth of the guides II is determined by the type of carrier upon which it is to be used. Obviously, for cardboard cartons, the depth will be considerably less than it would be when used in connection with wood or metal carriers. After forming the gu des II, the extended ends are bent inwardly slightly more than degrees, after which, the handle is ready for application to the carrier. To attach the handle to the carrier, the extended ends are sprung outwardly to permit the passage of the guides through the enlarged portions of the slots 8. Release of the extended ends permits them to spring back to a position where they snugly engage the inner walls of the slots and the opposite surfaces of the parttion 6, with just enough tension to permit readily slidable engagement therewith. The enlarged portions of the slots 8 is just sufllcient to permit the passage of the guides therethrough at assembly.

In use, the handle is movable up or down, according to the particular needs. In stacking or storing position, the handle is retracted to lie in a flush position with the top of the partition 6, presenting no obstacle, as to height. When the carrier is to be used to transport bottles or the like, the handle portion 9 is grasped and drawn upward, the guides ll sliding in the slots 8 until they contact the upper ends thereof at which time the handle portion 9 is sufficiently extended to permit hand engagement therewith. The tension of the guides l l within the slots 8 will maintain the handle in the extended position. When" the carrier is to be stored, the handle is moved downwardly to lie flush with the top of the partition 6. The handle I, as a whole, may be supj is.

plied as a unit for use upon different carriers and may be readily detached at will by simply spring ing the guides outwardly and passing them 7 through the enlarged portions of the slots 8, thus providing handles of a nature that might be supplied to a purchaser and used upon carriers of subsequent purchase. 7

It will be seen from the foregoing that an extremely simple and efiicient form of handle or bail has been provided for the convenient handling of beverage bottle carriers. The form of the invention readily adapts it to other types of carriers having a partition for the slots 8. 'The structure is extremely simple in nature, is easily attached and detached, requiring no separate 1 fastening means, is cheap to manufacture, is strong, durable and desirable in use.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within the terms or the spirit of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim A detachable handle for beverage carriers formed of a single piece of flexible material having a corrugated hand grip portion and a pair of parallel right angular leg extensions, the terminal 'ends of the leg extensions bent to provide inwardly opening channel-like U-shaped guides, a beverage carrier having a partition wall provided with parallel slots for the slidable and frictional reception of the guides, the slots being en- 0 larged for substantially half their length at the lovj'er ends of a width to permit the lateral passage of the guides therethrough.

l MARTIN L. SCHUMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Arneson n--- June '13, 1950 

